Bottle-capping machine



l Nov. l5, 1927.

QN. TEVANDER BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE y Filed Sept. 3,1925

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O. N. TE\ ANDER y BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1925 QSMQW-Slwet 2 Nov. 15, 192,7. 1,649,266

' O. N. TEVANDER kBOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE FiledKSept. 3, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 @www Nov. 15, 1927.

O N TEVANDER BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. .5, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nowv 15, 1927.

O. N. TEVANDER BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed sept. .5, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet G 25K/fw? @Waffel/Md Nov. 15, 1927.

o. NQ 'rEv'ANpER BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE l Filed Sept. 5, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 o. N. Tav/ANDER BOTTLE'CAPPIHG IAGHINE ymeal sept. 3,"1925 8 Sheets-Sheet '8 Nov. l5, 192.7.

Ihm 4 Patented Nov. 15,1927. j 1,649,266

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLOF N. TEVANDER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD CAP & SE: CORPORATION, OFk CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

BOTTLE-CAPPING MACHINE.

Application led September 3, 1925. Serial No. 54,283. t

My invention relates to bottle capping maplan View .on line 5 5 of Fig. -15 Fig chines and has a number of objects and ad- 6 1S a sectional elevation on line 6 6 of vantages in view. Flg. 4:, on a larger scale; Fig. 7 is a sec- 55 The caps which are desirably applied -to tional elevation on line 7--7 of Fig, 3; Fig,

` the bottles are inclusive vof skirts which sur- 8 shows a part of the inacliine'as ity app',

round the bottle necks. In order that these pears in 3 but with the conveyor chancaps may be applied to the bot-tle necks 2, nel for the bottles adjusted to a smaller nonresilient metallic bands are placed about size and with a larger bottle adjusting 60 the skirts ot' the bottle caps and are then constar wheel for removing the bottles from tracted or crimped at uintervals to closely apthe feeding channel; Fig. 9 is a sectional eleply the skirtsl ot' the caps to the bottlenecks. vation on line 9 9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a The capping niechanismfis inc1us1ve of y1ew. showing part of the structure appearlring contracting jaws, a cani for governlng ing 1n Fig. 6 to illustrate changed positions 65 the positions of the ring crimping or con-A of the jaws and cooperating parts; Fig. 11 'greeting ends of said jaws, and a cam for 1s a perspective View of the upper portion defining the relative positions of the aOrepf a'bottle after it has been capped; Fig.' 12 said cam and the jaws. i is a sectional view on line 12-12 of Fig. In the preferred embodiment ofthe in- 10; and Fig. 18 is a sectional plan View on 70 vention there is a set of jaws and cOOpcl" line 13-13 of Fig. v4. ative parts for each bottle and lOClted Vel- Reference will be first made to Fig. 2 in ticallv in line with the adjustable table secwhich I have illustrated a rotatable table 1 tion uthat. carries such bottle. Other cani ot' disc form-.upon which bottles 2 'are'placed mechanism is employed for elevating the ad, in empty condition, this table desirably 75 justable table sections and the bottles theref forming a part of a bottle filling mechanism i on into cooperative relation with the ring which constitutes no essential part of mv crimpingl jaws and parts coinpleinental t0 invention. The empty bottles are placed these jaws. The bottles are desirably capped upon the peripheral portion of the table by in succession though the invention need not means of a suitably operated empty bottle 80 be thus restricted. The construction is desil'- advancing star wheel 3. After the bott-les ably such that when the bottles are raised, are filled, they are removed from the table they elevate the ring crimping jaws pertam- 1 by means of another star wheel 4 and are ing thereto. to move these. jaws in relation placed by this star wheel 4 upon the sections to the cam that is to operate upon the Jaws 5 ot' another table. (5. This table 6 is de- S5 to crimp the rings. There is a carrier OI sirably a part-oll mechanism that is employed the jaws upon which the jaws are 4pivoted for inserting disc-like caps or closures 'i' in and there is also provided a magazine fOr the bottle mouths, the table sections 5 being the rings between the jaws that is vin line elevated to place the bottles in position to re` with the bottle to be capped. This magaceifve. these caps, This closure applying 90 zinc and the jaw carrier are desirably rclmechanisml also forms n0 essential part of atively fixed and both are movable upwardly my pi-esentinrvention by the bottle with relation to the jaw con- A suitably Operated Star Wheel 8 trans. tracting cam-in order that the bottle may fers the bottles having the disc-like caps cause the jaws to contract or crimpthe ringtherein from the table 6 to a chute or chan-95 The 4invention will be more fully explained nel way 9 and forces these bottles to travel in connection with the accompanying drawthrough this Chute or channel Way. The ings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation with discharge section of the chute or channel parts shown in section; Fi .-2 is a sectional way 9 hasv one side composed of a bottle plan View on line 2--2'0f Fig. 1 with other feeding screw 10 cooperating with the op- 100 mechanism supplied thereto, as will appear; posite channel Wall in defining the channel Figg is a sectional plan view on line 3-3 spaces through which the bottles travel as ot'Fig. 1; Fig. is a sectional elevation they pass-from the chute. The channel wall on line i-ll of Fig. 3; Fig.`5 is a sectional is inclusive of a section 11 which will yield to any bottle that may-encounter the crown of the thread of the feeding screw 10 as the bottle is entering engagement with the screw. This channel side 11 is desirablyhinged at 12 at one end, and is held in its normal position by means of a buiiing spring 13.. This spring surrounds a rod 14 that 1s pivotally connected 'with a tongue 15 projecting from the wall section 11. The spring bears, at one end, against 'a nut 16 screwed upon 'the rod 14 and, at its other end, bears against a stationary abutment 17 through which the rod slides. vThe front end of the wall section 11 is prevented from being projected into the channel way, by the action of the spring,-

by means of the stirrup 18, carried by the wall section 1l, which embraces the tongue 19 upon the wall section 20 that is in front of the wall section 11. The front end of the wall section 11 is bifurcated to receive said tongue. The base of the stirrup norc mally engages the tongue and faces outwardly so as not to limit the outwardswinging of the wall section 11. The bottles are carried to the feeding screw 10 by means of a rotating disc-like table 21, the portion of the bottle conveying chute adjacent to the receiving end of the feeding screw overlying theftable and conforming in curvaturethereto.

The table 21 is turned upon the axis of the shaft 22. The shaft carries a worm gear 23 which is in mesh with the worm gear 24 that is fixed upon the shaft 25 of the feeding screw. A housing is provided for the gear elements 23 and 24, this housing being fixed with respect to a section 26 of a chute wall. A complemental portion 27 of the housing is suitably assembled with the portion 26 and carries bearings 28 for the shaft 25 of.

the feeding screw 10. The feeding screw is capable of bodily swinging movement about the axis of the shaft 22. This screw 10 is provided with means at its vdischarge end, whereby it may be swung in order to adjust the channel space defined by the screw and the opposite chute wall portions 11 and 20.

As illustrated, the shaft 25 of the screw l 10 is journaled in a bearing block 29 which has trunnion connection at 30 and 31 with the sides of a yoke 32, the trunnions being arranged to enable the block 29 to turn upon an upright axis. The base of the yoke 32 is laterally extended as indicated at 33, the base extension of the yoke having a slot 34 therein. A threaded bolt 35 is passed upwardly through the stationary deck 36 into threaded connection with a sleeve 37. This sleeve has a rod 33 passed through its upper end whereby it may be turned with respect to the bolt. When the sleeve is tightened, it clamps the extended base of the yoke 32 against the deck. When it is loosened, it permits the yoke to be moved transversely of the feeding screw in the guide ways 39 to the extent permitted by'the slot 34. The bearing block 29 will turn upon its upright axis to permit various adjustments thereof without binding the shaft of the screw 10. The chute walls 11 and 2O are preferably, together, also adjustable toward and from the feeding screw. To this end, the chute wall section 2t) has a wing extension 40 formed to provide an arcuate channel 41 that receives an arcuate rib 42 provided upon the deck 36. The top wall of the channel 40 is formed with a slot 43 through which a bolt 44 passes, this bolt passing through the deck 36 and having its head engaged with the deck as does the head of the bolt The bolt 44 is received in the sleeve 45 into which this bolt is screwed. The bottom end of this sleeve bears upon the top wall of the channel 41. The sleeve has a rod 46 passing therethrough in order that it may be readily turned. When the sleeve 45 is loosened, the chute wall sections 11 and 20Qmay be adjusted for bottles of another sizie.4 See Figs. 3 and 8 where the adjustmen'ts are for larger bottles and smaller bottles respectively. lVhen these wall sections have been adjusted to selected position, the sleeve is tightened to hold them in suchposition. The teeth of the star wheel 47, employed for the larger bottles or the teeth of the star wheel 47, employed for the smaller bottles, serve to continue the travel ofthe bottles as they leave the feeding screw and to direct the same individually onto the vertically adjustable sections 48 of a disc-like table 49. The table sections 48 are elevated and lowered in the manner hereinafter described. The yoke 32 carries an arcuate arm 50, substantially concentric with the star wheel 47 or447 and cooperating with the periphery of such wheel to define the final portion of the channel through which the bottles are passed onto the table sections 48.- Because of the adjustability of the feeding screw 1l) and chute wall sections l1 and 20, the bottles are brought into .proper relation with the pitch circle of the employed star wheel 47 or 47.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for operating the various operating elements that are located above the deck 36. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, an electric motor 51 or a hand crank 52 may be employed for operating a main drive shaft 53. Power is transmitted to this drive shaft at adjustable speed through the intermedia-` The shaft 53 has a worm 55 thereon f iguanas is also fixed upon the shaft 60 and is in mesh with a bevel pinion 62 fixed upon a shaft 63. Another bevel pinion 64 is fixed upon the shaft63 and is .in mesh with a crown gear 65 that is in fixed relation with the table 21. The axis of rotation of the crown gear 65 is defined by the bearings 66 and 67 for the shaft 22, there being roller bearings 68 illterposed between the hub 69 of the crown gear 65 and the bearing 67. A bevel gear 40 is fixed upon the shaft 63 and is in mesh with a bevel pinion 71 u on the shaft 22 whereby this shaft and .tlie parts thereon are turned. The housing portion 27 is also journaled upon the bearing 67 so as to be oscillatable as the feeding screw is' swung.

All ofthe bottle supporting tables are constantly turned. While the table 49 is being turned, the sections 48 thereof are gradually elevated from the plane, proper, of the table and Gradually restored to this plane, the final cappzingoperation that is to be described at the upper end of a spring barrel 74. A

' piston 75 is within the lower end of the spring barrel and is normally held in fixed relation therewith `by means of a spring 76 whichabuts at its lower end upon the piston and at its upper end against the top end wall of the spring barrel. A link 77 'connects eachpiston 7 5 with one end of a bell crank 78 uponA whose elbow the correspond-A ing cam roller is journaled. The other end of this bell crank 1s pivoted upon arm 79 depending from a bearing support 80 which is fined4 upon the shaft 57 and is located below the table 49.

. As the shaft 57 turns, the cam rollers move bodily therewith over the cam track 72 to elevate and lower the table sections 48 t0 enable these table sections to function as will hereinafter appear. [As the shaft 57 and the parts thereon turn, the spring barrels 74 rise and fall due to the normally fixed relation of the pistons 75 therewith These spring barrels are guided 'in their movement by bearings 81 in the bearing support 80. If, in the iinal capping operation, the bottles should encounter undue strain, the

springs v7 6 will yield to prevent the bottles from breaking, the pistons 75 then rising in.

the spring barrels.

A support 82 is in normallyixe'd relation with the shaft 57. This support has splined connection with the shaft 57 as indicatedat 83 whereby it may be permitted .movement shaft. A large split nut lengthwise of the the upper end of the shaft 84 is screwed upon 57 and. has tongue and groove connection with the support 82 'so that this supsrt mai be elevated and lowered along the ft.

hand wheel 85'is provided upon the nut 84 to facilitate the turninr thereof. The support 82 is provided for the balance of the mechanism, complemental to the tablesections 48 and the mechanism that, operates these table the magazine 88, there being one by the rings and from which the rings dropA in a manner to have them applied singly to the bottles.

Each magazine 88 is in fixed relation with' a jaw carrier 89 individually thereto. Jaws 90 are pivoted at their up r ends .at 91 upon the jaw carrier. The ower ends of the jaws are formed withring receivi spaces 92 in which the' lowermost ring that as left the magazine is to be held in readinessA application to the skirt of the bottle ca that is about to be applied to the alined When each table section 48 has been raised to its upper limit, the corresponding bottle, with aV cap thereon hasl'been received within the bore of the )awearrier 89, th'e bottle having caused, in the completion o fits upper movement, the com lete upper movement of magazine 88 an the jaw carrier 89 moving with this magazine. When the bottle or the cap thereon engages the bottom of the magazine, it and the cap thereon arein proper position with respect to the jaws 90 to have the ring in thejaw recesses 92 ap plied to the cap.' As the magazine and t e jaw carrier are moved upwardly together following the initial enga ing of the bottle cap with the magazine, t e cam rollers 93 ride upwardly upon the normally stationary cam 94 whereby the roller Aends of the .'aws are moved inwardl to crimp the ring a ut the cap and aseemb e it with `the cap as illustrated in Fig. 11. When this operation has been rformed, the bottle is lowered to permit tgz magazine and the jaw carrier to be for' ttle.

lowered of their ow'n weight, the angular exare* guided in thelr movement by being in y snug sliding fit within openings provided in the bearin fixed upo the jaw carrier 89 and pass through sleeves 99fwh-ich are carried uponw Springs 100 intervene be the support 82.

support 82. The rods 98 are 100 serve normally to fix the cam 94 with respect to the. support 82. The downward movement of the cam is limited by the heads of bolts 102 which are screwed into the lower ends of the sleeves 99. If any unusual strain should be imposed upon the cam, the springs 100 would yield.

In preparing for the next ring applying operation, the lower ends of the jaws 90 are brought into engaging and holding position for the lowermost ring below the magazine, such lowermost ring resting upon shoulder 89 of the jaw carrier which positions this ring in the zone of the jaw formations 92. To this end I employ an annular cam track 103 which is co-axial with the magazine and upon which cam rollers 104 turn, these cam rollers being carried upon the jaw carrier 89. Each cam track 103 is oscillated to bring the jaws 90 into light holding engagement with the lowermost ring, as described, and to move the jaws outwardly from this position, after the ring crimping operation to permit a new ring to drop in-to place by the ensuing capping operation. To this end each cam track 103`is provided with a segmental gear 105 which is oscillated by a segmental pinion 106.

As illustrated, one segmental gear 106 iifay be in cooperating relation with two segmental gears 105, Each segmental gear 106 is fixed upon asquare shaft 107 which slides within a bearing 108, this shaft and this bearing, however, turning together. Each bearing 108 is carried -upon the upper end of a shaft 109. Each shaft 109 is mounted to turn in a bearing 110 in the bearing slipport 80. The lower end of the bearing support 109 carries a crank 111. A cam roller 112 is mounted upon the outer end of each crank. These cam rollers travel in a cam groove 113 formed in the stationary cam element 114. The shafts 109 are oscillated by the cam element 114' as the shafts turn bodily aboutthe shaft 57 The shafts 107, being journaled upon the support 82 and being driven upon the shafts '109, also turn with the shaft 57 so that the properly timed movement of the cams 103 occur as the apparatus is operating. Any suitable means may be'employed for journaling the shaft 57. I have illustrated a sleeve bearing 115 and a step bearing 116 at the lower end of the shaft and a sleeve bearing 117 at the upper end of the shaft, this 'sleeve bearing being carried by a stationary spider 118 which is carried upon the rods 119, supported in the bed of the machine.

After the bottles have been capped, they are discharged from the table 49 by the star l wheel 120 which is fixed with respect 'to the... shaft 57. The bottles are directed lfrom the table 49 by means of a chute 121 onto an extension 122 of the deck 36.

The chute structure herein disclosed forms subject matter of my copending application, Serial No. 84,060, filed June 27, 1926.

Changes may be madekwithout departing from my invention. i

claim:

1. A bottle 'capping machine including a movable magazine for holding rings and' formed to permit rings to drop therefrom; a jaw carrier surrounding and assembled with said magazine and mounted to be movable therewith, this jaw carrier being formed to catch and position a ring falling from the magazine; a plurality of jaws mounted upon the jaw carrier and having ring holding formations in the zone in which the ring is positioned; a cam surrounding said jaw carrier and in contracting relation to said jaws to cause the jaws initially to hold the ring positioned uponthe jaw carrier and thereafter to contract this ring; mechanism for causing initial movement of the jaws with-respect to the cam to initially hold a. ring; a rotatable support for the bottle being capped; a cam track on which said support rides and serving to elevate the support to bring the bottle neck into the lowermost ring and to cause elevation of the magazine and jaw carrier with reference to the cam to effect contraction of the jaws; and cam mechanism in operating relation to the mechanism that causes the initial movement of the jaws and including an element traveling with the-bottle support.

2. A bottle capping machine including a movable magazine for holding rings and formed "to permit rings to drop therefrom; a jaw carrier surrounding and assembled with said magazine and mounted to be movable therewith, this jaw carrierbeing formed to catch and position a ring falling from the magazine; a plurality of jaws mounted upon the jaw carrier and having ring holding formations in the zone in which the ring is positioned; a cam in contracting relation to said jawsto causel the jaws initially to hold the ring positioned upon the jaw-carrier and thereafter to contract this ring; mechanismfor causing initial movement of the jaws with respect to the cam to initially hold a ring; a rotatable support for the bottle being capped; a cam track on which said support rides and' serving to elevate the support to bring the bottle neck into the lowermost ring andl to cause elevation vof the magazine and jaw carrier with reference to the cam to efect contraction of the jaws; and cam mechanism in operating relation to the mechanism that causes initial movement of the jaws and including an element traveling with the bottle support.

'3. A bottle capping machine including a Having thus described my invention, I -K movable. magazine 4for holding rings and formed to permit rings to drop therefrom; a jaw carrier surrounding and assembled with said magazine and mounted to be movable therewith, formed to catch and position a ring falling from the magazine; a plurality of jaws mounted upon the jaw carrler and having 'ring holding formations in the zone in which the ring is positioned; mechanism for 1mtially contracting said jaws to initially hold a ringand to further contract the jaws to contract the ring; a rotatable support for the bottle being capped; acam track on which saidA support rides and serving to elevate the support to bring the neck of the jaw carrier and having ring holding formations in the zone in which the ring is positioned; a cam surrounding said jaw carrier and in contracting relation to said jaws to cause the jaws initially to hold the ring this jaw carrier being positioned upon the jaw carrier and thereafter to contract the ring; a rotatable support for the bottle being capped; a cam track on which said support rides and serving to elevate the support to bring the neck of the supported bottle into a ring and operating in conjunction with the bottle to actuate the jaw contracting mechanism; mech.

anism for effecting relative movement of the jaws and cam to initially hold the ring; and cam mechanism in operating relation to the mechanism that causes initial movement of the jaws and including an clement traveling with the bottle support.

5. A bottle capping machine including a movable magazine for holding rings and formed to permit'rings to drop therefrom; mechanism for contracting the rings and inclusive of ring contracting jaws, a carrier for the jaws assembled with the magazine to be movable therewith, and a cam in contracting relation to the jaws and engaged by the jaws when the magazine and jaw earrier are moved; a rotatable support for the bottle being capped; and a cam track on ihich said support rides and serving to elevate the support to bring the bottle neck into the lowermost rring and into actuating relation with the jaw contracting mechanism.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name. 

